Bulldogs Fight Through Tough Day At Jerry Pate National Intercollegiate

Photo Courtesy of hailstate.com

VESTAVIA HILLS, Ala. – In a field of nine Top 50 teams at the Jerry Pate National Intercollegiate, Mississippi State finished the day with a 33-over-par 593 to earn an 11th-place sitting entering Tuesday’s final round.

After shooting a 19-over 299, Clay Homan’s squad fought back to fire a 14-over 294 in the second round Monday afternoon. The Bulldogs sit three strokes back of No. 20 UNLV for a share of 10th place, with No. 4 Alabama leading the field after carding an 8-under at the Old Overton Country Club.

“It was another tough day for us,” Homan said. “We let about four holes determine our score. Good players don’t make big numbers and they don’t compound their mistakes. We have to do a better job in that area.”

The Bulldogs have turned in sixth- and seventh-place finishes the last two times out after opening the season with a runner-up finish at the Sam Hall Intercollegiate.

In his second-consecutive start on the Bulldog card, sophomore Ben Wood shot a 9-over 149 to tie for 44th, while true freshman Ben Follett-Smith tied for 48th after notching a 10-over 150 in his first collegiate start.

Rounding out the Maroon and White scorecard was senior Barrett Edens’ 13-over 153.

Homan’s squad will tee off at 8 a.m. for the final 18 tomorrow, alongside Arizona and UNLV.